Being a parent during a pandemic!

It is no secret that COVID-19 has changed all of our lives and has left a lot of individuals (children and adults) in distress as it has made us make extreme adjustments to our day-to-day activities. The uncertainty of the situation has been causing higher levels of stress for many families. From worrying about jobs, finances, and physical health to whether they will be able to enjoy summer activities, families have a lot on their minds.

In a series of weblogs, we would like to provide some psychological support, for different age groups, during this overwhelming times. This one is for you, parents (and adult readers)! Whether you are a stay-at-home parent, have been laid-off, or are working full time from home; we hope that we can help you find your inner peace by reading this weblog.

The following five points have been derived from our conversations with many of our adult clients and what was of concern to them. We want to share our thoughts with you:

You are a human being- and because of that, there is only so much that you can do. Dr. Emily King (Ph.D) said it beautifully that “working, parenting and teaching are three different jobs that cannot be done at the same time.” So, choose your role at any given time and stick to it. If you are being a parent, be a parent. If you are working, then attend to your work.

Throw the guilt out of the window- Feeling guilty about how you wanted to spend time with your children (e.g., play, do arts and crafts, etc.) or partner during a pandemic and how you are actually spending it (e.g, working 9-5) is not going to help you. Instead, be realistic about your day-to-day life, montior your level of energy and plan accordingly.

Live your life – Live your actual life rather than envying other people’s virtual lives. Spending time on social media and scrolling down on what other people have cooked or created on their free time is not going to make you feel good. Instead, be happy about the home-made coffee that you got to drink at your desk while answering work emails! Life, at the end, is all about little pleasures.

Stop worrying about your child’s scholastic progress during the pandemic- your child is not behind and will not be behind once he goes back to school. Schools and teachers will be helping your child (and so many more children) and monitor their progress once life goes back to normal. For now, get your child to read a book, prepare the measuring cups when you bake, or clean their room or closet.

Talk about your feelings to someone- It’s normal to experience a mixture of feelings during a pandemic. If you are worried or stressing out because of the so many changes that you had to make in a short period of time, find a friend [or a therapist] to talk to.

Our therapists at Montreal Art Therapy Centre have made themselves available for online/video therapy sessions. If you need to talk about any of the above issues with a professional, feel free to visit our website at www.montrealarttherapy.com or call us at 514-999-3414